Anna's Diary: Paint, Planes and Charity

24th August 2010: I have recently become a representative for the McGuinness McDermott foundation. Below is some history on the MMF, and you can find out more about the Foundation by checking out www.mcfoundation.com.au or following their Facebook page by searching McGuinness McDermott Foundation.

The McGuinness McDermott Foundation (‘MMF’) was launched on 30th May 1996 by former Adelaide Football Club (Crows) captains Tony McGuinness and Chris McDermott with the aim to improve areas of Oncology treatment and facilities for children and their families in South Australia.

Over the past 14 years more than $12 million has been raised for various projects. Current major projects include the new Haematology and Oncology Centre and MRI Machine.

Every year an average of 60 South Australian children are diagnosed with cancer. Over the past 14 years, advancements in the care and facilities for children with cancer have improved to the point that there is now an 85% survival rate.

The McGuinness McDermott Foundation Survivorship Service provides practical support for children living with cancer and their families including a physical rehabilitation program, psychological services, wellness services (lifestyle support), a social based peer support program and much more.

I am going to become involved not only by meeting with the children and their families but also as an extension of the physical rehabilitation program by taking the children and their families for rides along the river Torrens or out on the velodrome. Something I very much look forward to.

I am also participating in the Survivorship Service’s art therapy program. This program gives children living with cancer a fun way to express their emotions, release stress and regain their confidence. I am painting a piece which will be auctioned by the MMF to raise much needed funds for this great program. My painting, along with others created by celebrities and the children the MMF supports will be auctioned at a special art exhibition to be held at the Sea House, Glenelg on Sunday 10th October, the day I return from the Indian Commonwealth Games.

Anyone interested in bidding for a special piece for their home or work place please by all means come along and have a great afternoon. More information will be available closer to the date so keep your ears to the ground for that.

Join me and them in helping to make a difficult time for kids with cancer and their families a little easier and by aiming to raise funds and try to create special moments for the children.

Heck out the progression and conclusion photos of my artwork in the photos attached. I had a wonderful time doing this painting and hope that it goes not only to a good home but gains funds that will change a little someone’s life.

Please read below for a comment from the director of the MMF, Chris McDermott.

On behalf of the McGuinness McDermott Foundation I would like to sincerely welcome Anna into our family.

Fair to say she has landed with a bang and made an unbelievable impression in a very short time.

Our kids adore her ,our sponsors and supporters were absolutely mesmerised by her when she spoke at one of our functions recently and fair to say we can’t wait to get our hands on her for more of the same.

I don’t make this statement lightly but Anna will surpass even her greatest sporting achievements in her life after cycling and I hope many of her comrades and fellow athletes will follow her lead in becoming more Community conscious and help pave the way for a much better life for children throughout Australia that have significant obstacles in their path.

We wish her well in her endeavours on the bike and thank her for helping enhance the lives of many of South Australia’s seriously ill kids.

Chris McDermott

Director MMF

For more information about Anna Meares, visit her website www.annameares.com.au

Anna's Diary: Leaving on a Jet Plane

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24th August 2010: The final few weeks leading up to our departure were busy to say the least. I did a few talking appearances; one at the Glenelg football Club ladies luncheon, one at the Eagles pre-game lunch, and I was also the guest speaker at the SAPES (SA Police and Emergency Services) Games Awards evening. Here I met many great people including the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the SA Police. I also spoke at St John the Baptist Primary school sharing my story and experiences of the two Olympics I have been to. My sponsor, Tony Scarfo from Zink, his children attends this school and so they invited me along. I spent two hours talking with the kids, going through photos and memories and I believe it was thoroughly enjoyed from Preschool through to grade 7.

I flew to Sydney for a day to film at Foxtel with 6 other Athlete’s to sit on a panel and be questioned by some of our Aussie school students about our sports and involvement in the Commonwealth Games. It was a lot of fun and gave me the chance to catch up with an old friend, Mark Knowles. Co Captain of the Kookaburra’s from Rockhampton. We hadn’t seen each other in a few years now and it was great to see him again. He and Jamie Dwyer his fellow team member from Rockhampton are now based in Holland which means that he boys are going to come along to the world titles in March which will be in Appledorn. It will be great to see them there.

I also completed my painting which I did for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation of which I have become an ambassador. I spent 17 hours over the final 3 weeks I was home. I had to complete it before I left as it will be auctioned off with a number of other paintings on October 10th, the day I return home from the Commonwealth Games. I really hope it raises a lot of much needed funds for kids with cancer. It is a modernised self portrait of the moment I realised I had won gold in Athens in the 2004 Athens Olympics and it is a piece that I am very proud of. I did a lot of art work in high school and the years past but not in the last 4 years or so and I really enjoyed getting back into it.

I was also given the chance by my coach Gary West to head home for a weekend to see my family before my big stint overseas. I flew out to Moranbah and spent the weekend with my sister Tracey and her family as well as my brother Scott and his wife. They threw me a little birthday party with my two nieces as I was going to be away for mine. On Sunday I drove across to Middlemount and spent the day with my Mum and saw my dad before he headed off for night shift before flying back to Adelaide. It was so nice to catch up and send some quality time even if it was only for a weekend with them. I do miss them greatly!

The Cosmo magazine Fun Fearless Female awards are also in full swing of voting. I progressed from the nominated stage to the finalist stage. The awards will be announced in Sydney on September 30th but I won’t be able to attend due to being in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games but I still hope I can win the authors category. If you would like to vote for me to win this category please visit www.cosmopolitan.com.au and follow the prompts. I would really appreciate all the votes possible.

Our junior’s also had an incredibly successful campaign at the Junior World Titles in Italy last week producing a medallist in every cyclist that represented Australia. Massive congratulations go to all of the young riders who performed so well! To check out photos and reports on this successful young team please click this link. www.velodrome.org.uk/jworlds10australia.html

Training has been going smoothly and it has been very tough in the Adelaide winter. But now things have picked up even more as we begin out training camp in preparation for the Delhi Commonwealth Games. I will be overseas for 2 months and at the end of the stint I will be racing for Australia in the 500m Time Trial, the Individual Sprint and the Team Sprint. All of which I am extremely excited about. The Team was only recently named officially so congratulations to all who made the team.

Well that is all from me for now. I hope you enjoyed this latest update and I will continue to write more whilst overseas in preparation for Delhi.

For more information about Anna Meares, visit her website www.annameares.com.au

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